Pages

Sunday, November 15, 2009

During my raids of international eBay and the smaller Swedish cousin Tradera I have come across a great deal of Sicura watches. One of the most common models I have seen on the net (and also one of the most expensive) is the Sicura Submarine 200M.

I think it’s the popularity of the model, due to its relations to Breitling both historically and cosmetically that keeps this watch on top of the scale. In 1979 the “G. Leon Breitling” firm came to a halt after 100 years of watch making. The firm was founded in Switzerland 1884 by Leon Breitling and manufactured complicated watches.

Close to the outbreak of WWII the firm started making chronographs for aircrafts and it was this that made the brand famous worldwide. The firm also began making watches for the Royal Air Force and it was the success and the acknowledgement from pilots that led to triumph for the brand. During the early 50ies Willy Breitling, the grandson of Leon Breitling, started with the production of the famous Navitimer that was an extremely technical watch suited for technicians and engineers but became very popular with the public.

During the 1970ies a new type of watch was developed, the quartz watch. This meant that an accurate quartz watch could be produced for less cost and time than a mechanical watch and suddenly almost everybody could afford a watch that kept good time. Breitling, being a firm that produced advanced mechanical watches, unwillingly began producing quartz watches alongside its mechanical ones. But the firm finally, perhaps due to the reluctance of following the times, closed in 1979. The same year Willy Breitling passed away from disease.

A saviour came to Breitlings rescue, the same year as the firm closed, and was taken over by Ernest Schneider, the CEO of Sicura. A pilot himself, Ernest was convinced that the Breitling brand was worth the effort of saving as it had always stood for excellent quality and had the potential to keep doing so. The CEO´s first act was to produce three new models, the Jupiter, Mars and Pluto chronographs, after conferring with other pilots. In 1984 the wind of change had begun for mechanical watches, as they gained popularity once more, and the firm produced the first one since 1979.

After long consideration, Ernest decided that the Sicura brand would step down because of Breitlings greater potential. Some of the Breitling watches produced after 1979 share similar features with Sicura watches from the same period and therefore looks somewhat alike.

I personally do not own any Breitlings, but if I was to by one it would be a vintage one from the sixties, perhaps a Navitimer or one like this 1958 Bretling Cadette.

Last I have my two favourite Sicuras, the globetrotters. Both are a bit banged up but I think they only need some TLC. The Globetrotters are wonderfully oversized watches with a worldtime function that I like.

28
Comments:

Thank you very much for posting and sharing this great article. It is so interesting. I want to know some other information about this site. So please give me this news quickly. I always will be aware of you.Get some information about rolex submariner watches.

That Sicura SuperWP blew me away. Looked at a lot of Divers lol. The line of the lugs is gorgeous and the overall balance of design is never overt or compromised !! The moment i saw it was like West Side Story........Cc

I have an old Sicura Submariner (200m) that a cousin of my father, dear friend and older than I, gave me when I was thirteen (now I'm fifty-four). I'm very fond of it because it was my first watch. It has manual winding and works perfectly, however it's not waterproof anymore. The only issue is that its watchband broke many years ago, and I (stupidly) threw it away, so the current one is not original. Anyway, it's a beautiful watch and I intend to keep it.

Interesting article, I have a sic urea breitling marine star from the 1970s I got from my farther at 14 years old as a present. It was about a weeks wages back then, and I had almost forgot about it! I started using it again last week, we are talking about a 36 year old watch, and it still works well and keeps up with my tag! Brill! What I like about it is it is not flashy and doesn't even have the breitling or is urea branding, other than the crest on the back!

Great article and this may be beating a dead horse, but as this article is near the top of the list of Google results for Sicura and Breitling, I think something should be clarified.

Sicura didn't "step in" to save Breitling, rather purchased the brand name when the company was liquidated.

The different parts of Breitling as a company was sold off to various different entities. Ollech & Wajs, for example, bought the unsold parts for Navitimers, Sinn bought the design specs for the Navitimers (and went on to make them under the Sinn brand) and so on. Sicura bought just the name, I didn't retain the employees, technical knowledge or the machinery employed by Breitling. Until the late 80s, when the "new" Breitling re-introduced the Navitimer design (which, whilst looking similar, in terms of psychical dimensions was nothing alike the originals), Brietling made watches which, beyond logo and the name, looked and functioned nothing like Breitlings made by the original company.

It is more fair to say that in the 1980s, Sicura changed its name and traded under the Breitling brand.

I am very fond of breitling watches because When I wear it then I feel much more comfortable then others watches.The company make different brands of breitling watch at affordable prices in which every person afford this .I bought these watch through Sell Breitling Watch and I also got some discount.

Wonderful post. Please keep posting I think it’s the popularity of the model, due to its relations to Breitling both historically and cosmetically that keeps this watch on top of the scale.Check out Breitling watches

In the 60's I bought my first 'proper watch' it looked the business cos it was a big chrome diver with a 'rally' style chrome band. It was all I could afford,it was in a High St bargain sale and it was a Sicura. I had it for years and it kept the time near enough for me to catch the bus on time to work (most of the time :) I liked the watch and often wonder what happened to it, but please don't let anyone tell you that a Sicura bears the slightest similarity to a Breitling, it doesn't. They were a budget watch,used budget movements and more often than not had base metal cases. The tenuous Breitling tie in is a con, a fabrication to give the brand credit it doesn't warrant. Breitling,although they used standard movements, totally reworked them into finely engineered masterpieces. It's a bit like having a bog standard Escort 1300 and sticking Cosworth BDA badges fancy wheels and a paint job on it, it doesn't fool anybody.

Amazon Rolex timepiece is known for both their perfection and elegance. Such a sterling mixture of elegance and quality may be the reason why they control such a high price. Every person internet websites a Rolex snacks it like a valued ownership. If you own a Rolex and want to treasure it permanently, then you have to understand how to take good appropriate proper your observe. A simple appropriate care and primary servicing system will not only keep your Rolex in ideal performing situation for years to come, but will offer the feel that you are dressed in a product new Rolex every time you use your observe.

I have just taken delivery of an original Sicura Signal Alarm Incabloc 17 Jewel, circa 1970's. It is a manual wind for both the timepiece and the alarm which is a vibrating buzz. It is a lovely piece but as it is pre-loved came without any manuals or instructions. does anyone here know where i may find such literature.Cheers

Loved the history lesson "The SICURA and BREITLING story".Need some help with a Sicura finger ring watch my wife had bought for her in the late 60's.Amazingly it still works and she has kept it in it's original box.

Would love to have your oppinion and have taken some pics if you want them.

Very efficiently written information. It will be beneficial to anybody who utilizes it, including me. Best Diwali Wishes 2016 Keep up the good work. For sure i will check out more posts. Raksha Bandhan Messages This site seems to get a good amount of visitors.

There seems still a need for facts on the relationship between Breitling and Sicura. After reading this article, I interpret that Sicura merely bought Breitlings name and trademark. So, in essence, are all post 80's "Breitlings" actually made by Sicura? The article clearly stated that Breitling went out of business. So, once again, who makes current and post 80's Breitlings? Is it Sicura?

Unlike traditional watches, smart Watches have to be charged every night so that it can work properly the very next day which was not the case for traditional watches but if you want to get something, you need to lose something too. People avoided this drawback and looked forward towards the hi-tech gadget. The only thing they expect is after paying so much of money, they want it to last the device for a longer period of time and hope that it’s worth the money but in spite of the threats, the industry still considers that there is a hope left for the traditional wrist watches as well.

I have the same watch I purchased from the military PX while stationed in Germany in 1974. I have no Manuel's or instructions available. But the alarm when you set it for the time to go off you keep the alarm dial pulled out. When the alarm buzzes you push the dial in until your next setting. Allen

While a student at Lincoln Technical College I bought a Sicura chronograph from a secondhand shop. This was in the early 1970's and I used my very first chequebook for the very first time for a huge amount of about three quid - a gallon of petrol was about 45p, the cinema cost about two bob and half a bitter and lime was about a shilling and you could still buy sixpennorth of chips even though they cost 2.5p.

I liked the watch but it really annoyed me one of the dials didn't zero. I tried all the local watchmenders without success but my wife's brother some years later told me he knew of a shop in Sheffield where it could be repaired and so we visited the next Saturday.

He guided us to a small backstreet jewellers shop run by two very young and attractive women; one being the sales lady and the other carrying out the repairs. It took her only ten minutes to tell me the part needed was available and the watch would be ready for collection the following Thursday, price £3.

I stopped wearing the watch when the metal bracelet caught against the car battery while checking the oil of the car. It got very hot very quickly and burned my wrist quite badly and resulted in a genuine Highland Fling - we were holidaying in Scotland at the time cruising around trying to find some reception on the portable tv so the wife could watch Charles and Diana marry.

The watch survived the heat and the Fling and although I still have the watch I rarely wear it or any other watch these days. I broke myself of the habit for safety and in due course decided I wasn't very interested in being on time...

About Me

My motto is “if it’s broken and cost under 50 euros, try repairing it!” it’s always worth a try. Even if I buy watches with intent to sell them I usually never do. This blog is a way for me to keep track of the watches I buy and what I do with them, so you can say that it is mainly for me but I hope other people will enjoy it to.